Pick up truck

ABSTRACT

A pick up truck is disclosed, in which a longer cargo can stably be loaded as the case may be by increasing the size of a cargo box. The pick up truck includes: a cap portion  10  driven by an engine and provided with seats at the front to allow a driver and passengers to ride thereon, having a top portion covered with a loop panel  11;  a cargo load  20  having a load floor  21  extended toward a rear end of the cap portion  10,  for loading various cargos on the load floor  21;  a cap panel member  30  and a box panel member  40  raised between the cap portion  10  and the cargo load  20  to divide the cap portion  10  and the cargo load  20,  having a back glass to see the rear; and a box panel switch means for switching the box panel member  40  to connect the cap portion  10  with the cargo load  20,  so that an opening  100  is formed to extend the cargo load  20,  wherein the box panel switch means separates the cap panel member  30  from the box panel member  40,  so that hinges  31  and  41  are formed to allow the cap panel member  30  and the box panel member  40  to be respectively folded toward an inner side of the cap portion  10,  the box panel member  40  having a panel member supporting means  50  for raising the cap portion  10  and the cargo load  20  to compartment them, thereby maintaining and fixing the raised state.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a pick up truck that transportslight cargo, and more particularly, to a pick up truck that can stablyload a longer cargo by increasing the size of a cargo box.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art

[0004]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a rear side structure ofa related art pick up truck. Referring to FIG. 1, the related art pickup truck includes a cap portion 1 for carrying passengers and a cargobox 2 for carrying cargo. A side wall 4 is compartmented between the capportion 1 and the cargo box 2. The side wall 4 is provided with a glasswindow 3 to allow a driver to ensure a rear view through a room mirror(not shown).

[0005] The related art pick up truck cannot transport a longer cargothan the length of the cargo box 2. Therefore, to transport a longercargo, although it is light, a truck more than a medium size has beenrequired whether the cargo is light or heavy. This has increased thetransport cost.

[0006] To solve such a problem, another type of pick up truck has beensuggested as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,727. This related pick up truck isconfigured such that a longer cargo 6 than a cargo box 2 is loaded in oron a wheel cover 5 projected in the cargo box 2.

[0007] Such a pick up truck includes a cap portion 1, the cargo box 2, abox panel member 7, and a front side wall 8. The box panel member 7 isaxially connected with the front side wall 8 of the cargo box 2 and ismovable in a horizontal position.

[0008] Accordingly, the box panel member 7 is partially overlapped withthe wheel cover 5 and is supported by the wheel cover 5.

[0009] Furthermore, when the box panel member 7 is in a horizontalposition, the cargo box 2 includes a cargo box opening 9. Also, a cappanel member 9 a is axially mounted in the cap portion 1 and is movablebetween a vertical closed state and a horizontal open state.

[0010] Therefore, when the cap panel member 9a is in the horizontalposition and a cap opening 1 a is partially aligned with the cargo boxopening 9, the cap portion 1 has the cap opening 1 a.

[0011] The related art pick up truck can increase the size of the cargobox by opening the cap panel member and the box panel member as the casemay be so as to load a longer cargo. However, the related art pick uptruck has several problems.

[0012] First, since the cap panel member and the box panel memberseparated from each other are unfolded toward the cargo box, the boxpanel member is put on the wheel cover. In this case, the box panelmember does not require a separate support member but the cap panelmember requires a relatively expensive shock absorber to maintain thehorizontal state. This increases the production cost.

[0013] Furthermore, since the box panel member is put on the wheelcover, the box panel member is not flush with the bottom. This causesunstable load state in case of a longer cargo.

[0014] Finally, when the longer cargo is loaded, an unnecessary portionis formed between the wheel cover and the bottom of the cargo box,thereby reducing a practical load area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a pick up truckthat substantially obviates one or more of the problems due tolimitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[0016] An object of the present invention is to provide to a pick uptruck in which a cap panel member and a box panel member can be foldedtoward a cap portion in a state where they are separated from eachother, so that the box panel member is flush with a bottom surface of acargo box.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pick uptruck in which a rear seat is not damaged even if a longer cargo isloaded in a state where a box panel member is folded.

[0018] Other object of the present invention is to provide a pick uptruck in which a cap panel member is only folded toward a cap portion toconveniently open a cap opening, thereby ventilating the inside of thepick up truck.

[0019] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparentfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realizedand attained by the scheme particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

[0020] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, apick up truck according to the present invention includes: a cap portiondriven by an engine and provided with seats at the front to allow adriver and passengers to ride thereon, having a top portion covered witha loop panel; a cargo load having a load floor extended toward a rearend of the cap portion, for loading various cargos on the load floor; acap panel member and a box panel member raised between the cap portionand the cargo load to divide the cap portion and the cargo load, havinga back glass to see the rear; and a box panel switch means for switchingthe box panel member to connect the cap portion with the cargo load, sothat an opening is formed to extend the cargo load, wherein the boxpanel switch means separates the cap panel member from the box panelmember, so that hinges are formed to allow the cap panel member and thebox panel member to be respectively folded toward an inner side of thecap portion, the box panel member having a panel member supporting meansfor raising the cap portion and the cargo load to compartment them,thereby maintaining and fixing the raised state.

[0021] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 are separated fromeach other and folded toward an inner portion of the cap portion 10, itis convenient to use them.

[0022] Furthermore, since the cap panel member 30 and the box panelmember 40 are not exposed toward a rear end of the cap portion 10, adesirable appearance can be obtained.

[0023] It is possible to prevent the cap panel member 30 and the boxpanel member 40 from moving and colliding against a cargo S even if loadvibration occurs during driving of the pick up truck. It is possible toalso prevent vibration noise from occurring.

[0024] Moreover, since the box panel member is flush with the bottomsurface of the cargo box in a state where it is folded, it is convenientto load a longer cargo S and a rear seat is not damaged.

[0025] It is to be understood that both the foregoing generaldescription and the following detailed description are exemplary andexplanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of theinvention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

[0027]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a related art pick uptruck;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an open state of a cappanel member in another related art pick up truck;

[0029]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a pick up truck inaccordance with the present invention;

[0030]FIGS. 4A and 4B are longitudinal sectional views illustrating anoperation state of a pick up truck in accordance with the firstembodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4a is a state view inwhich a cap opening and a cargo box opening are closed, and FIG. 4b is astate view in which a rear seat is folded and a cap opening and a cargobox opening are opened; and

[0031]FIGS. 5A and 5B are longitudinal sectional views illustrating anoperation state of a pick up truck in accordance with the secondembodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5a is a state view inwhich a cap opening and a cargo box opening are closed, and FIG. 5b is astate view in which a rear seat is folded and a cap opening and a cargobox opening are opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodimentsof the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

[0033]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a pick up truck inaccordance with the present invention, in which a cap panel member 30and a box panel member 40 are folded toward an inner portion of a capportion 10 in a state where they are separated from each other.

[0034]FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a pick up truck in accordance with thefirst embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B,the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40 are separated fromeach other and folded by a hinge at a boundary between them. In a lowerportion of the box panel member 40, a hinge 41 is rotatably fixed to asupporter 42 at a bottom surface of the cap portion 10. Accordingly, toload a longer cargo S, as shown in FIG. 4B. the lower portion of the boxpanel member 40 is folded in a state where the cap panel member 30 isoverlapped with the box panel member 40, so that an opening 100 isformed to connect a cargo load 20 with the cap portion 10.

[0035] Meanwhile, in a loop panel 11, the cap panel member 30 ismaintained so as not to be folded in a vertically closed state and a cappanel member locking means 60 for releasing a locking state when the cappanel member 30 is folded is rotatably mounted.

[0036] In case where a seat is disposed at the rear of a driver's seat,a seat folding means should be provided so as not to affect movement ofthe box panel member 40.

[0037] In other words, a rear seat 14 and a seat back portion 15disposed at the rear of the driver's seat in two rows are formed to befolded around pivot shafts 16 and 17. Thus, when the box panel member 40is folded and rotated, the rear seat 14 is raised and the seat backportion 15 moves correspondingly, so that the box panel member 40 isfolded to be put on the seat back portion 15, thereby extending thelength of the cargo load 20 to the inner portion of the cap portion 10.

[0038] Furthermore, a panel member supporter 50 is provided on a bottomsurface 19 of a cargo box to firmly maintain the state of the box panelmember 40 raised to close the opening 100. That is to say, a stopper 51is fixably mounted at one side of the box panel member 40 to firmlysupport the raised state of the box panel member 40 at one side oppositeto a direction in which the box panel member 40 is folded.

[0039] Meanwhile, a weather strip w1 that maintains tightness with thecap panel member 30 is mounted at an end portion of the loop panel 11 sothat rainwater is prevented from being entered into the cap portion 10along edges of the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40having mobility. Also, a weather strip w2 that maintains tightness witha contact portion between the cap panel member 30 and the box panelmember 40 is mounted on the box panel member 40.

[0040] Furthermore, a weather strip w3 is mounted in a contact portionbetween the stopper 51 and the box panel member 40.

[0041] The operation of the aforementioned pick up truck according tothe first embodiment of the present invention will now be described inmore detail.

[0042] First, as shown in FIG. 4a, in a state where the cap panel member30 and the box panel member 40 are maintained in a vertical direction, aboundary between the cap portion 10 and the cargo load 20 is cut off sothat the opening 100 is closed.

[0043] At this state, in the same manner as a typical pick up truck, thecap portion 10 and the cargo load 20 are compartmented and a pluralityof weather strips w1, w2, and w3 maintain tightness. Accordingly, it ispossible to prevent any noise from occurring during driving of the pickup truck and to also prevent rainwater or dust from being entered intothe cap portion 10.

[0044] Under the circumstances, to load a longer cargo S, the opening100 in a closed state should be opened. To this end, as shown in FIG.4a, the rear seat 14 which is unfolded is raised in an arrow directionto maintain a vertical state and at the same time the seat back portion15 is pulled back counterclockwise so that it is folded toward the rearseat 14.

[0045] As described above, once the rear seat 14 and the seat backportion 15 are folded in such a manner that they are switched to eachother, a locking member 61 of the cap panel member locking means 60 isseparated and moved from its state which supports the inner side end ofthe cap panel member 30. Thus, the cap panel member locking means 60 isreleased.

[0046] The locking member 61 is swingably mounted at the base of theloop panel 11. The locking member 61 is configured to have more powerfulfixed force at the location where it is closely contacted with the cappanel member 30 and the swing location at both ends where the closecontact is released.

[0047] Next, the cap panel member 30 is closely contacted with the boxpanel member 40 by inwardly folding the cap panel member 30 connectedwith the box panel member 40 by the hinge 31. Then, the box panel member40 is inwardly pushed, so that the box panel member 40 is put on theseat back portion 15 in a state where the box panel member 40 isoverlapped with the cap panel member 30. As a result, as shown in FIG.4b, the box panel member 40 is flush with a bottom surface of a loadfloor 21.

[0048] Therefore, the opening 100 closed by the cap panel member 30 andthe box panel member 40 is opened, so that the longer cargo S can stablybe loaded using an upper surface of the box panel member 40 and the loadfloor 21.

[0049] When it is not necessary to load the longer cargo, the box panelmember 40 and the cap panel member 30 are raised contrary to the aboveoperation and the locking member 61 of the cap panel member lockingmeans 60 moves to support the inner side end of the cap panel member 30.Then, the rear seat 14 and the seat back portion 15 are returned totheir original location so that the inner portion of the cap portion 10is sealed and the cargo load 20 is compartmented.

[0050]FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate another pick up truck according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 5A and5B, a cap panel member 30 is closely contacted with the base of a looppanel 11 in a state where a cap panel member 30 and a box panel member40 are completely separated from each other. The box panel member 40moves to be put on a portion where a rear seat 14 and a seat backportion 15 are folded, so as to form an opening 100.

[0051] In other words, in a state where the cap portion 10 and the cargoload 20 are compartmented, the cap panel member 30 and the box panelmember 40 are separated from each other in a horizontal direction. Thecap panel member 30 is formed to be folded together with an end of theloop panel 11 by a hinge 31 while the box panel member 40 is formed tobe folded with a supporter 42 raised on a bottom surface 19 of a cargobox by a hinge 41.

[0052] A fixed means 70 consisting of a pair of hooks 71 and 72 ismounted in the loop panel 11 to maintain the opening 100 in an openstate in a state where the cap panel member 30 is tightly folded.

[0053] Also, in case where a seat is disposed at the rear of a driver'sseat, a seat folding means is provided so as not to affect movement ofthe box panel member 40 in the same manner as the first embodiment.

[0054] In other words, the rear seat 14 and the seat back portion 15disposed at the rear of the driver's seat in two rows are mounted to befolded around pivot shafts 16 and 17. Thus, when the box panel member 40is folded and rotated, the rear seat 14 is raised and the seat backportion 15 moves correspondingly, so that the box panel member 40 isfolded to be put on the seat back portion 15, thereby extending thelength of a cargo load 20 to the inner portion of the cap portion 10.

[0055] Furthermore, in the same manner as the first embodiment, a panelmember supporter is provided on the bottom surface 19 of the cargo boxto firmly maintain the state of the box panel member 40 raised to closethe opening 100. That is to say, a stopper 51 is fixably mounted at oneside of the box panel member 40 to support the raised state of the boxpanel member 40. Thus, the stopper 51 firmly the raised state of the boxpanel member 40 at one side opposite to a direction in which the boxpanel member 40 is folded.

[0056] Meanwhile, a weather strip wl that maintains tightness with thecap panel member 30 is mounted at an end portion of the loop panel 11 sothat rainwater is prevented from being entered into the cap portion 10along edges of the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member 40having mobility. Also, a weather strip w2 that maintains tightness witha contact portion between the cap panel member 30 and the box panelmember 40 is mounted on the box panel member 40.

[0057] Furthermore, a weather strip w3 is mounted in a contact portionbetween the stopper 51 and the box panel member 40.

[0058] The operation of the aforementioned pick up truck according tothe second embodiment of the present invention will now be described inmore detail.

[0059] First, as shown in FIG. 5a, in a state where the cap panel member30 and the box panel member 40 are maintained in a vertical direction,the opening 100 is closed. In this case, the cap portion 10 and thecargo load 20 are compartmented like a typical pick up truck. Tightnessis maintained between the cap panel member 30 and the box panel member40 by means of several weather strips w1, w2, and w3. Therefore, it ispossible to prevent any noise from occurring during driving of the pickup truck and to also prevent rainwater or dust from being entered intothe cap portion 10.

[0060] Under the circumstances, to load a longer cargo S, the opening100 in a closed state should be opened. To this end, as shown in FIG.5a, the rear seat 14 which is unfolded is raised in an arrow directionto maintain a vertical state and at the same time the seat back portion15 is pulled back counterclockwise so that the seat back portion 15 isfolded toward the rear seat 14.

[0061] As described above, once the rear seat 14 and the seat backportion 15 are folded, the cap panel member 30 is inwardly raised and isclosely fixed to the loop panel 11 by the fixed means 70. Then, the boxpanel member 40 is inwardly pushed, so that the box panel member 40 isput on the seat back portion 15. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5b, the boxpanel member 40 is flush with a bottom surface of a load floor 21. As aresult, the longer cargo can stably be loaded using the box panel member40 and the load floor 21.

[0062] In the second embodiment of the present invention, the rear seat14 and the seat back portion 15 are only folded in a state where the cappanel member 30 is not opened. Thus, the box panel member 40 is onlyfolded toward the cap portion 10 to load the longer cargo.Alternatively, the cap panel member 30 is only folded toward the innerside of the cap portion 10 to ventilate the inner portion during drivingof the pick up truck.

[0063] As aforementioned, the pick up truck according to the presentinvention has the following advantages.

[0064] First, since the cap panel member and the box panel member areseparated from each other and folded toward the cap portion, a desirableappearance and a simple structure can be obtained, thereby saving theproduction cost.

[0065] Second, the box panel member is put on the folded seat backportion so that it is flush with the bottom surface of the cargo box.Accordingly, it is convenient to stably load the longer cargo.

[0066] Third, since the longer cargo is put on the rear side of the boxpanel member in a state where the seat back portion is folded, a rearseat is not damaged.

[0067] Finally, since the seat back portion is mounted at the rear seat,it is possible to prevent a passenger sit on the rear seat from springout of the truck through the cap opening and the opening of the cargobox even if any crash occurs.

[0068] The foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary and are not to beconstrued as limiting the present invention. The present teachings canbe readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of thepresent invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit thescope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pick up truck comprising: a cap portion drivenby an engine and provided with seats at the front to allow a driver andpassengers to ride thereon, having a top portion covered with a looppanel; a cargo load having a load floor extended toward a rear end ofthe cap portion, for loading various cargos on the load floor; a cappanel member and a box panel member raised between the cap portion andthe cargo load to divide the cap portion and the cargo load, having aback glass to see the rear; and a box panel switch means for switchingthe box panel member to connect the cap portion with the cargo load, sothat an opening is formed to extend the cargo load, wherein the boxpanel switch means separates the cap panel member from the box panelmember, so that hinges are formed to allow the cap panel member and thebox panel member to be respectively folded toward an inner side of thecap portion, the box panel member having a panel member supporting meansfor raising the cap portion and the cargo load to compartment them,thereby maintaining and fixing the raised state.
 2. The pick up truck ofclaim 1, wherein the cap panel member includes a cap panel memberlocking means for raising the cap portion and the cargo load tocompartment them, thereby maintaining and fixing the raised state. 3.The pick up truck of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a seat foldingmeans for rotating a rear seat and a seat back portion disposed at therear of a driver's seat, toward the inner side of the cap portion, toput the box panel member on the seat back portion.
 4. The pick up truckof claim 1, wherein the panel member supporting means includes a stopperfixably mounted at one side of the box panel member to support the boxpanel member at one side opposite to a direction in which the box panelmember is folded.
 5. The pick up truck of claim 1, wherein the looppanel includes a fixed means consisting of a pair of hooks to maintainthe opening in an open state in a state where the cap panel member istightly folded.
 6. The pick up truck of claim 2, wherein the cap panellocking means includes a locking member swingably mounted at the base ofthe loop panel, the locking member being configured to have morepowerful fixed force at the location where it is closely contacted withthe cap panel member and the swing location at both ends where the closecontact is released.
 7. The pick up truck of any one of claims 1 to 6,further comprising weather strips disposed along the cap panel memberand the box panel member to maintain tightness.